Objectives

The current study seeks to explain changes in support for violent extremism during the transition to early adulthood. This period during the life course could increase uncertainty and vulnerability to radicalization, or alternatively lead to maturation, prosocial bonds, and consequently less support for violent extremism. In the absence of population-based longitudinal data on violent extremist attitudes, we know very little about how and why attitudes change during this period.

Method

Data came from an ongoing longitudinal cohort study in Zürich, Switzerland (n = 910). First, we assessed the variation in violent extremist attitudes between ages 17 and 20 using the Reliable Change Index. Second, we used hybrid regression techniques to investigate to what extent theoretically relevant factors can explain between- and within-individual differences in violent extremist attitudes.

Results

Our results show that violent extremist attitudes are largely stable or declining between late adolescence and early adulthood, and that within-individual changes in low self-control, conflict coping skills, and peer disapproval of violence can in part explain these changes.

Conclusions

For young people in Zürich, the transition to early adulthood was characterized by increases in psychosocial maturity, more prosocial peers, and less deviant behavior, which in turn was associated with lower support for violent extremism. Existing research on effective interventions for criminal desistance and disengagement from gangs may therefore be fruitful avenues for developing programs aimed at reducing support for violent extremism and fostering deradicalization.

中文翻译：

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了解成年早期过渡期间暴力极端主义态度的变化

 目标

目前的研究试图解释在成年早期过渡期间对暴力极端主义的支持发生的变化。生命历程中的这一时期可能会增加不确定性和对激进化的脆弱性，或者导致成熟、亲社会纽带，从而减少对暴力极端主义的支持。由于缺乏关于暴力极端主义态度的基于人口的纵向数据，我们对这一时期态度如何以及为何发生变化知之甚少。

 方法

数据来自瑞士苏黎世正在进行的一项纵向队列研究（n = 910）。首先，我们使用可靠变化指数评估了 17 岁至 20 岁之间暴力极端主义态度的变化。其次，我们使用混合回归技术来研究理论上的相关因素在多大程度上可以解释暴力极端主义态度的个体之间和个体内部的差异。

 结果

我们的研究结果表明，在青春期末期和成年早期，暴力极端主义态度基本上保持稳定或有所下降，而个体内部低自控力、冲突应对技巧和同伴对暴力的反对程度的变化可以部分解释这些变化。

 结论

对于苏黎世的年轻人来说，向成年早期过渡的特点是心理社会成熟度的提高、同龄人更加亲社会以及越轨行为的减少，这反过来又与对暴力极端主义的支持减少有关。因此，现有关于有效干预犯罪和脱离帮派的研究可能是制定旨在减少对暴力极端主义的支持和促进去激进化的计划的富有成效的途径。